The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-12-17
AN ECCENTRIC NAsoe.
How John I. Blair Manufactured Money
When He Needed IL.

When He Needed IL.
Soon after the Delaware, Lackawanna
& Western railroad was extended over
the Pocono mountains into the Lacka-
wanna valley, John /. Blair. the ecccn-
trio millionaire of Blairstown. n. j.,
came to Scranton every month to pay
a portion of the railroad men. The
vehicle from which he distributed cash
was lumber wagon. which was drawn
from one part of the road to another
by team of old plugs. Mr.. Blair
liked to circulate the bills of his Blairs-
town bank as far away from home rs
possible. and the most of his payments
were made in his own bank notes.
Whenever lie ran out of money he put
a board across the deep wagon box.
hauled a lot Of sheets OF unsigned bank
notes out Of his iron trunk. sat down
on the bottom of the wagon. and be-
gan to make more money by placing
his peculiar autograph ON the crisp
notes.
Moses Taylor. who was one of the
heaviest stockholders in the road, came
to Scranton frequently. Nothing about
the road and the shops and mines
escaped his eagle eye. and one day he
noticed Mr.. Blair making money on
the board. He watched tho process for
while. and then he stepped up to the
wagon and said to Mr.. Blair:
John J.. have you any idea how
large articulation your bank has got?'
Guess VIC amt got cent more in
circulation than we kin redeem in spe-
cic. Your bank don't have TO ask more
than once for gold for our bills, docs
it? We amt turnin' out any morc'n
we've got the metal TO back up. arc
weP" squeaked Mr.. Blair, continuing
to sign.
Several years ago each freight train
on the road had crew of conductor
and three brakcmen. Mr.. Blair saw q
chance to economic by taking one
brakeman from each freight train, and
he caused an order to be issued to that
effect. In consequence of this the con.
ductors were obliged to assist in switch.
ing cars, and before the end OF tic yeal
a number of them had been injured
One shockingly profane conductor had
both legs cut off while he was making
up his train in the Scranton yard one
day. lie laid tho accident to Mr.. Blail
after he became conscious. and he swort
fcarfully about Mr.. Blair's pcnulious
ness up to within few minutes of his
death.
At his church in Blairstown one Sun
day Mr.. Blair placed his old-fashionct
silk hat in the end Of pew next Il
the aisle and went to another part o
the church to seat people. While h
was away very fat old woman, who
was not regular attendant, waddlet
in and helped herself to seat withou
| looking to see whether there was an,
thing in the pew or not. She sat RICH
| down on the millionairc's hat, but sh'
WIDELY unconscious of the fact, and sh,
| continued to sit there until Mr.. Blai
had finished his duties. Then he be
gan to search for his plug, and whcl
he got to the fat woman he looked dis
couraged. He peercd into severa
pews in front of her. and then he wen
back and asked her to rise. She di,
so, and there was the hat rs fiat as
flapjack. Mr.. Blair struggled with hi
emotions as he held up the ruined tile
| and the fat woman was SO cmbarrasse,
she couldn't utter word. Looking
her straight in the face and holding III
hat at arms length. Mr.. Blair said:
"God bless you, my good woman. y
L ~ Y Sam